UK railway operator Network Rail and Lafarge Tarmac have started work on a £5m project, which will link two quarries near Horton in Ribblesdale with the Settle to Carlisle railway line.
The move is expected to help remove up to 16,000 lorry journeys from the local road network.
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Lafarge Tarmac, which provides funding for the project, has been in discussion with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Craven District Council, local parish councils and residents to examine the ways in which materials from its Arcow and Dryrigg quarries could be moved by rail.
The project will see the reinstatement of a rail connection linking Arcow to the main Settle to Carlisle line, which was originally removed from operational use in the 1960s.
Following the reopening, the link will allow the transfer of materials by rail, removing thousands of lorry journeys from the Yorkshire Dales National Park each year.
Both Network Rail and LaFarge Tarmac will carry out a public information event next week, where local people can find out more about the benefits of the investment.
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By GlobalDataNetwork Rail scheme project manager Joelle Calderelli said: "This is a project, which demonstrates the value of the railway to industry to move large amounts of material which is currently being transported by roads.
"Rail freight is better for the environment than road haulage and helps to remove thousands of vehicles from the road network.
"Work has already started and involves building a new railway embankment and installing all of the infrastructure to safely operate trains. Once completed, we will be connecting the new section to the mainline in late 2015."
